Ostrowski, SJSU, Bess

Stephen Tsai profiles backup slotback Jeremiah Ostrowski, and takes a look at the early candidates to replace Greg Salas and Kealoha Pilares next year.

"First of all, he's a bright kid," receivers coach Mouse Davis said, "and he has good athletic mobility, as we call it. He has quickness and he can catch the ball. If he works on things, he'll be a good player."

Davis also said that freshman slotback Allen Sampson and wideouts Darius Bright and Terence Bell will be considered for a slotback's job.

Elliott Almond of the San Jose Mercury News previews this Saturday's UH-SJSU game.

MacIntyre has put a premium on tackling this week in preparation for Hawaii, adding, "They catch the ball in space with those quick receivers and make people miss."

The coach would have emphasized tackling no matter the opponent. MacIntyre said his team missed 25 tackles in a heartbreaking 38-34 defeat last weekend to Utah State.

"We have to be able to tackle them after they catch the football," he said of Hawaii. "We have to understand what angles to take. That's a big, big key in stopping this team."

Dave Reardon catches up with Davone Bess.

A week from Saturday, the day before a road game against the Raiders, Bess headlines a dinner gathering in the East Bay to help his alma mater, Skyline High.

The Davone Bess All-Star Luau is tentatively scheduled for Jan. 27 at a site to be determined on Oahu. It's a benefit for the American Cancer Society (Hawaii/Pacific chapter).

"I'm excited to come back to my second home and about the opportunity to do something for the community," Bess said.

That sounds like a prepared statement, but it really isn't. If you need a true measure of the man, consider his reply when an organizer asked how much he'd require for an appearance fee for the Skyline event: "Come on, man. You must be trippin'."